This is a thread for colorful idioms related to flattery. I am not interested in single-word translations (eg. English "to flatter"), only idioms (eg. English "to butter someone up"). Please provide a literal translation into English as well. No flags, please!
English: to kiss ass, to brown-nose, to suck up, to butter up, to kiss up, to lick boots
French: lécher le cul [to lick ass], cirer les pompes [to wax shoes], lécher les bottes [to lick boots]
Italian: leccare il culo [to lick ass], leccare i piedi [to lick feet]
Spanish: lamer el culo [to lick ass]
Persian: کاسه لیسی kāse līsī, [licking someone's bowl], سبزی پاک کنی sabzī pāk konī [cleaning someone's herbs], چاپلوسی chāplūsī [unsure of etymology]
Urdu: تلوے چاٹنا talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
UniLang Language Community • Forum
Brown-nosing idioms
Moderator:Forum Administrators
-
eskandar
- Language Forum Moderator
- Posts:3093
- Joined:2006-12-15, 8:27
Please correct my mistakes in any language.
-
Linguaphile
- Posts:5374
- Joined:2016-09-17, 5:06
Re: Brown-nosing idioms
English: to kiss ass, to brown-nose, to suck up, to butter up, to kiss up, to lick boots
French: lécher le cul [to lick ass], cirer les pompes [to wax shoes], lécher les bottes [to lick boots]
Italian: leccare il culo [to lick ass], leccare i piedi [to lick feet]
Spanish: lamer el culo [to lick ass], lamer las botas [to lick boots], dorar la píldora [to gild/gold-coat the pill], hacer la pelota [to make the ball; hard to translate but a person who sucks up to a boss or teacher is said to be "la pelota"], chupar las medias [suck the socks/stockings]
Estonian: taldu lakkuma [to lick the soles of the feet], saapa lakkuma [to lick boots], mett mokale määrima [to spread honey on the lips]
Persian: کاسه لیسی kāse līsī, [licking someone's bowl], سبزی پاک کنی sabzī pāk konī [cleaning someone's herbs], چاپلوسی chāplūsī [unsure of etymology]
Urdu: تلوے چاٹنا talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
French: lécher le cul [to lick ass], cirer les pompes [to wax shoes], lécher les bottes [to lick boots]
Italian: leccare il culo [to lick ass], leccare i piedi [to lick feet]
Spanish: lamer el culo [to lick ass], lamer las botas [to lick boots], dorar la píldora [to gild/gold-coat the pill], hacer la pelota [to make the ball; hard to translate but a person who sucks up to a boss or teacher is said to be "la pelota"], chupar las medias [suck the socks/stockings]
Estonian: taldu lakkuma [to lick the soles of the feet], saapa lakkuma [to lick boots], mett mokale määrima [to spread honey on the lips]
Persian: کاسه لیسی kāse līsī, [licking someone's bowl], سبزی پاک کنی sabzī pāk konī [cleaning someone's herbs], چاپلوسی chāplūsī [unsure of etymology]
Urdu: تلوے چاٹنا talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
-
vijayjohn
- Language Forum Moderator
- Posts:27056
- Joined:2013-01-10, 8:49
- Real Name:Vijay John
- Gender:male
- Location:Austin, Texas, USA
- Country:
United States (United States) - Contact:
Re: Brown-nosing idioms
English: to kiss ass, to brown-nose, to suck up, to butter up, to kiss up, to lick boots
French: lécher le cul [to lick ass], cirer les pompes [to wax shoes], lécher les bottes [to lick boots]
Italian: leccare il culo [to lick ass], leccare i piedi [to lick feet]
Spanish: lamer el culo [to lick ass], lamer las botas [to lick boots], dorar la píldora [to gild/gold-coat the pill], hacer la pelota [to make the ball; hard to translate but a person who sucks up to a boss or teacher is said to be "la pelota"], chupar las medias [suck the socks/stockings]
Estonian: taldu lakkuma [to lick the soles of the feet], saapa lakkuma [to lick boots], mett mokale määrima [to spread honey on the lips]
Persian: کاسه لیسی kāse līsī, [licking someone's bowl], سبزی پاک کنی sabzī pāk konī [cleaning someone's herbs], چاپلوسی chāplūsī [unsure of etymology]
Urdu: تلوے چاٹنا talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Hindi: तलवे चाटना talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Malayalam: മണി അടിക്കുക maṇi aṭikkuka [to ring the bell]
French: lécher le cul [to lick ass], cirer les pompes [to wax shoes], lécher les bottes [to lick boots]
Italian: leccare il culo [to lick ass], leccare i piedi [to lick feet]
Spanish: lamer el culo [to lick ass], lamer las botas [to lick boots], dorar la píldora [to gild/gold-coat the pill], hacer la pelota [to make the ball; hard to translate but a person who sucks up to a boss or teacher is said to be "la pelota"], chupar las medias [suck the socks/stockings]
Estonian: taldu lakkuma [to lick the soles of the feet], saapa lakkuma [to lick boots], mett mokale määrima [to spread honey on the lips]
Persian: کاسه لیسی kāse līsī, [licking someone's bowl], سبزی پاک کنی sabzī pāk konī [cleaning someone's herbs], چاپلوسی chāplūsī [unsure of etymology]
Urdu: تلوے چاٹنا talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Hindi: तलवे चाटना talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Malayalam: മണി അടിക്കുക maṇi aṭikkuka [to ring the bell]
-
linguoboy
- Posts:25540
- Joined:2009-08-25, 15:11
- Real Name:Da
- Location:Chicago
- Country:United States (United States)
Re: Brown-nosing idioms
English: to kiss ass, to brown-nose, to suck up, to butter up, to kiss up, to lick boots
French: lécher le cul [to lick ass], cirer les pompes [to wax shoes], lécher les bottes [to lick boots]
Italian: leccare il culo [to lick ass], leccare i piedi [to lick feet]
Spanish: lamer el culo [to lick ass], lamer las botas [to lick boots], dorar la píldora [to gild/gold-coat the pill], hacer la pelota [to make the ball; hard to translate but a person who sucks up to a boss or teacher is said to be "la pelota"], chupar las medias [suck the socks/stockings]
Irish: bheith i do mhaidrín lathaí ag duine [to be someone's muddy little dog], bheith ag cuimilt leidhbe do dhuine [to stroke someone's pelt], béal bán a dhéanamh le duine [to make a white mouth with someone]
Welsh: gwerthu lledod i rywun [to sell flatfish to someone], llyfu tin [to lick ass]
Estonian: taldu lakkuma [to lick the soles of the feet], saapa lakkuma [to lick boots], mett mokale määrima [to spread honey on the lips]
Persian: کاسه لیسی kāse līsī, [licking someone's bowl], سبزی پاک کنی sabzī pāk konī [cleaning someone's herbs], چاپلوسی chāplūsī [unsure of etymology]
Urdu: تلوے چاٹنا talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Hindi: तलवे चाटना talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Malayalam: മണി അടിക്കുക maṇi aṭikkuka [to ring the bell]
French: lécher le cul [to lick ass], cirer les pompes [to wax shoes], lécher les bottes [to lick boots]
Italian: leccare il culo [to lick ass], leccare i piedi [to lick feet]
Spanish: lamer el culo [to lick ass], lamer las botas [to lick boots], dorar la píldora [to gild/gold-coat the pill], hacer la pelota [to make the ball; hard to translate but a person who sucks up to a boss or teacher is said to be "la pelota"], chupar las medias [suck the socks/stockings]
Irish: bheith i do mhaidrín lathaí ag duine [to be someone's muddy little dog], bheith ag cuimilt leidhbe do dhuine [to stroke someone's pelt], béal bán a dhéanamh le duine [to make a white mouth with someone]
Welsh: gwerthu lledod i rywun [to sell flatfish to someone], llyfu tin [to lick ass]
Estonian: taldu lakkuma [to lick the soles of the feet], saapa lakkuma [to lick boots], mett mokale määrima [to spread honey on the lips]
Persian: کاسه لیسی kāse līsī, [licking someone's bowl], سبزی پاک کنی sabzī pāk konī [cleaning someone's herbs], چاپلوسی chāplūsī [unsure of etymology]
Urdu: تلوے چاٹنا talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Hindi: तलवे चाटना talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Malayalam: മണി അടിക്കുക maṇi aṭikkuka [to ring the bell]
"Richmond is a real scholar; Owen just learns languages because he can't bear not to know what other people are saying."--Margaret Lattimore on her two sons
-
vijayjohn
- Language Forum Moderator
- Posts:27056
- Joined:2013-01-10, 8:49
- Real Name:Vijay John
- Gender:male
- Location:Austin, Texas, USA
- Country:United States (United States)
- Contact:
Re: Brown-nosing idioms
Oops, I forgot to bold Hindi and Malayalam! 
Thanks for bolding Malayalam for me!
English: to kiss ass, to brown-nose, to suck up, to butter up, to kiss up, to lick boots
French: lécher le cul [to lick ass], cirer les pompes [to wax shoes], lécher les bottes [to lick boots]
Italian: leccare il culo [to lick ass], leccare i piedi [to lick feet]
Spanish: lamer el culo [to lick ass], lamer las botas [to lick boots], dorar la píldora [to gild/gold-coat the pill], hacer la pelota [to make the ball; hard to translate but a person who sucks up to a boss or teacher is said to be "la pelota"], chupar las medias [suck the socks/stockings]
Irish: bheith i do mhaidrín lathaí ag duine [to be someone's muddy little dog], bheith ag cuimilt leidhbe do dhuine [to stroke someone's pelt], béal bán a dhéanamh le duine [to make a white mouth with someone]
Welsh: gwerthu lledod i rywun [to sell flatfish to someone], llyfu tin [to lick ass]
Estonian: taldu lakkuma [to lick the soles of the feet], saapa lakkuma [to lick boots], mett mokale määrima [to spread honey on the lips]
Persian: کاسه لیسی kāse līsī, [licking someone's bowl], سبزی پاک کنی sabzī pāk konī [cleaning someone's herbs], چاپلوسی chāplūsī [unsure of etymology]
Urdu: تلوے چاٹنا talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Hindi: तलवे चाटना talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Malayalam: മണി അടിക്കുക maṇi aṭikkuka [to ring the bell]
Thanks for bolding Malayalam for me!English: to kiss ass, to brown-nose, to suck up, to butter up, to kiss up, to lick boots
French: lécher le cul [to lick ass], cirer les pompes [to wax shoes], lécher les bottes [to lick boots]
Italian: leccare il culo [to lick ass], leccare i piedi [to lick feet]
Spanish: lamer el culo [to lick ass], lamer las botas [to lick boots], dorar la píldora [to gild/gold-coat the pill], hacer la pelota [to make the ball; hard to translate but a person who sucks up to a boss or teacher is said to be "la pelota"], chupar las medias [suck the socks/stockings]
Irish: bheith i do mhaidrín lathaí ag duine [to be someone's muddy little dog], bheith ag cuimilt leidhbe do dhuine [to stroke someone's pelt], béal bán a dhéanamh le duine [to make a white mouth with someone]
Welsh: gwerthu lledod i rywun [to sell flatfish to someone], llyfu tin [to lick ass]
Estonian: taldu lakkuma [to lick the soles of the feet], saapa lakkuma [to lick boots], mett mokale määrima [to spread honey on the lips]
Persian: کاسه لیسی kāse līsī, [licking someone's bowl], سبزی پاک کنی sabzī pāk konī [cleaning someone's herbs], چاپلوسی chāplūsī [unsure of etymology]
Urdu: تلوے چاٹنا talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Hindi: तलवे चाटना talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Malayalam: മണി അടിക്കുക maṇi aṭikkuka [to ring the bell]
-
rmanoj
- Posts:86
- Joined:2011-05-02, 8:23
- Gender:male
- Country:
India (भारत / India)
Re: Brown-nosing idioms
Another Malayalam expression
English: to kiss ass, to brown-nose, to suck up, to butter up, to kiss up, to lick boots
French: lécher le cul [to lick ass], cirer les pompes [to wax shoes], lécher les bottes [to lick boots]
Italian: leccare il culo [to lick ass], leccare i piedi [to lick feet]
Spanish: lamer el culo [to lick ass], lamer las botas [to lick boots], dorar la píldora [to gild/gold-coat the pill], hacer la pelota [to make the ball; hard to translate but a person who sucks up to a boss or teacher is said to be "la pelota"], chupar las medias [suck the socks/stockings]
Irish: bheith i do mhaidrín lathaí ag duine [to be someone's muddy little dog], bheith ag cuimilt leidhbe do dhuine [to stroke someone's pelt], béal bán a dhéanamh le duine [to make a white mouth with someone]
Welsh: gwerthu lledod i rywun [to sell flatfish to someone], llyfu tin [to lick ass]
Estonian: taldu lakkuma [to lick the soles of the feet], saapa lakkuma [to lick boots], mett mokale määrima [to spread honey on the lips]
Persian: کاسه لیسی kāse līsī, [licking someone's bowl], سبزی پاک کنی sabzī pāk konī [cleaning someone's herbs], چاپلوسی chāplūsī [unsure of etymology]
Urdu: تلوے چاٹنا talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Hindi: तलवे चाटना talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Malayalam: മണി അടിക്കുക maṇi aṭikkuka [to ring the bell], സോപ്പിടുക sōppiṭuka [to put soap (on x); i.e. to soap x up]
English: to kiss ass, to brown-nose, to suck up, to butter up, to kiss up, to lick boots
French: lécher le cul [to lick ass], cirer les pompes [to wax shoes], lécher les bottes [to lick boots]
Italian: leccare il culo [to lick ass], leccare i piedi [to lick feet]
Spanish: lamer el culo [to lick ass], lamer las botas [to lick boots], dorar la píldora [to gild/gold-coat the pill], hacer la pelota [to make the ball; hard to translate but a person who sucks up to a boss or teacher is said to be "la pelota"], chupar las medias [suck the socks/stockings]
Irish: bheith i do mhaidrín lathaí ag duine [to be someone's muddy little dog], bheith ag cuimilt leidhbe do dhuine [to stroke someone's pelt], béal bán a dhéanamh le duine [to make a white mouth with someone]
Welsh: gwerthu lledod i rywun [to sell flatfish to someone], llyfu tin [to lick ass]
Estonian: taldu lakkuma [to lick the soles of the feet], saapa lakkuma [to lick boots], mett mokale määrima [to spread honey on the lips]
Persian: کاسه لیسی kāse līsī, [licking someone's bowl], سبزی پاک کنی sabzī pāk konī [cleaning someone's herbs], چاپلوسی chāplūsī [unsure of etymology]
Urdu: تلوے چاٹنا talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Hindi: तलवे चाटना talvē cāṭnā [to lick the soles of someone's feet]
Malayalam: മണി അടിക്കുക maṇi aṭikkuka [to ring the bell], സോപ്പിടുക sōppiṭuka [to put soap (on x); i.e. to soap x up]
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 16 guests